Recent Reads: Bikes, Beaches / Ghosts and Guilt

In case you haven't been able to tell, I've been reading. Like a maniac! It's awesome. I'm in that lull right now after just finishing what I think are some major revisions and then starting a new project. Plus, I've had the opportunity to read some ARCs and omg. There are some amazing books coming out this year!! That doesn't mean there were not fantastic books that have already come out though.

Book: Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

Count: 7
Genre: YA Contemp
Auden doesn't sleep at night. At least not since her parents split up, but she's adapted, focusing on not making waves and achieving academically. Now, the summer before she starts college is here and she's spending it in a tiny beach town with her father, his new wife and their new baby. Very quickly Auden ends up with a job at her stepmom's trendy boutique that introduces her to a world of girlyness she's never known. And then there's Eli, a former star on the bike circuit who can't seem to sleep at night either. A lot can happen between sunset and sunrise. Anything can happen. So, Sarah Dessen's totally one of my heroes. If you didn't already know, I'm a serious fan. This is another one of hers to add to my fave list.

Book: The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove by Lauren Kate
Count: 8
Genre: YA Contemp
Natalie Hargrove will be Palmetto Princess. She'll do anything to get the title and truly leave her wrong side of the tracks past behind her for good. But when a prank to secure the title goes horrifically wrong, the guilt starts to gnaw away at her. Ghosts from her pasts suddenly appear and now she has to decide if being royal is really worth all the regret. This is a far different story from Lauren Kate's Fallen. The way the summary was written made me think it was a paranormal. It's not. It was still a good book though.

Recent Reads: Angels, Haikus, Knights and Manicures

Sorry for the uber-long post. I'm catching up on my Recent Reads posts. I didn't put in much of reviews here, but check out my GoodReads page if you're interested in my thoughts!

Book: Fallen by Lauren Kate
Count: 1
Genre: YA Paranormal
The title should've told me what was up, but the cover was what got me. Beautiful! Luce Price has been medicated through much of her life to regulate her visions of shadows. Finally, a book where the MC is seeing weird things and there's some parental action being taken (even if it is medication). Another fallen angel(s) story, but this one has enough of a twist to make it different.

Book: The Complete History of Why I Hate Her by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
Count: 2
Genre: YA Contemp
The title initially made me chuckle, thinking it was one of those snarky, teenage things. But that's not what it is at all. The book follows Nola on a quest to find herself. Interspersed with the Haiku-speak she shares with her terminally-ill sister, the premise of the story was good, but it felt like there were too many subplots that never really developed into anything and there wasn't enough life to the secondary characters. It was a short read, and I liked the story, but I just wanted more.

Book: Shadow by Jenny Moss
Count: 3
Genre: YA Fantasy (? Not sure what to classify this one as)
A bit of a coming of age story, Shadow is an orphan who's lived with Queen Audrey since it was prophesized the queen would die by her 16th birthday. A bit fairytale-ish, but the telling of the story is not. Told from Shadow's perspective, her pain is felt, as is her joy in the simple things. I was a little thrown by the twist towards the end, the fantasy aspect of it, but overall, it was a good read.

Book: Magic Hands by Jennifer Laurens
Count: 4
Genre: YA Contemp
After reading the book, I looked at the cover and I don't think that is the right image for the story inside. Cort is a popular jock at Pleasant View High School who's so desperate for a job he starts working at the new nail salon in town and gets a whole new perspective on the cattiness of girls and how a little bit of gossip can go a long way. I liked the story of this book, but the writing style was a bit confusing at times. It's written in third person, but there's head jumping with no clear line when we're jumping between Cort and Rachel, the female MC. I got confused a few times and had to go back and reread to make sure I knew who was thinking what.